"People have strong feelings about insects, and most of those feelings are negative," comments biologist Marlene Zuk, who attempts to find out what makes insects special, and perhaps more akin to humans than we previously suspected. Zuk reveals the parenting techniques of earwigs, examines the world of ant warfare, and ponders whether wasps have distinct personalities. And if these tiny creatures can do so much with such tiny brains, why are our brains so large?

"Zuk approaches her subject with such humor and enthusiasm for the intricacies of insect life, even bug-phobes will relish her account."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)